What the Oakland Raiders’ Starting Lineup on Offense Should Look Like

The search for a capable offense in Oakland has begun, as concerns are all over the map from coaching, playcalling, and productivity.

This unit will be under more scrutiny than any offense in the NFL in 2009.

 

Quarterback: Jamarcus Russell

Some of the Jeff Garcia supporters in the media will be disappointed when Jamarcus Russell’s name is announced when the Raiders open the season against the annoying San Diego Chargers.

But seeing Garcia start that game will make many puke, because then they will know the hunt for a franchise signal-caller is still on.

 

Running Back: Darren McFadden

The team’s most explosive weapon is healthy and determined to improve from his rookie campaign. It wasn’t a highlight reel year, and many fans on different sites are unimpressed.

It’s sure strange to read these comments, but what is even more strange is Russell going to Tom Cable requesting D-Mac to play more.

Michael Bush will get carries, but contractually it makes sense to see what the Raiders have in McFadden as an every down player.

 

Fullback: Lorenzo Neal

Hammering holes open for his fellow running backs throughout his career should continue in 2009.

Neal must have a large McDonald’s smile on his face knowing he gets to block for such talented backs that are in Oakland, and he brings an attitude and toughness the Raiders have lacked for many years.

 

Wide Receivers: Chaz Schilens and Johnnie Lee Higgins

Both young guys have the blessing of Al Davis and produced the best play out of all wideouts last season.

Schilens’ size, speed, and ability to go up for the ball should give him the chance to be the team’s No. 1 target.

Higgins provides the big play ability needed to make Russell’s life easier. Some say he is really a slot guy, but the team played better when he was out on the field. There isn’t any disputing it.

 

Tight End: Zach Miller

Everyone wants to see Miller get a Pro Bowl invite now that Tony Gonzalez has left the conference.

Russell trusts him more than his wide receivers, and he shall continue to use him as a safe option over the middle.

 

Right Tackle: Khalif Barnes

This is something he doesn’t want to happen, but he is a better run blocker than Mario Henderson and doesn’t have better feet than the third-year player from Florida State.

Nonetheless, Barnes is a major upgrade over Cornell Green, and the team would be confident in Barnes going up against left defensive ends .

 

Right Guard: Cooper Carlisle

He’s a steady, above average player who is looking to rebound after a disappointing 2008. The Raiders brought him back because they believe the 2007 version will appear during the season.

His experience in the ZBS will be needed as he learns to play next to new linemen.

 

Center: Samson Satele

I jumped for joy when Jake Grove wasn’t retained. I was sick of watching him impersonate a starting NFL center for the Raiders.

Samson Satele is an upgrade, and people will see this when he is getting through to the second level and opening up big holes for the running backs.

He is only 24, and this move will quiet a lot of us who wanted the Raiders to draft Alex Mack.

 

Left Guard: Robert Gallery

A very awful left tackle is possibly on the verge of becoming a Pro Bowl guard.

Cable gets a lot of credit, but so does Gallery for bouncing back and becoming a valuable player for the line. I was hard on the guy, but he played well the last two seasons.

 

Left Tackle: Mario Henderson

I was gad when Davis made the move to trade up and draft Henderson in 2007.

He did well last year, considering no one can be worse than Kwame Harris. Henderson critics speak about having a lot of help from tight ends and fullbacks last season.

The Raiders passed on a left tackle in the draft, because they know something others don’t. Drew Rosenhaus does as well.

 

Guys who take the heat if it doesnt work

Tom Cable will call the plays on offense, with Ted Tollner adding input as well. Paul Hackett will be over Russell as he tries to continue his magic with quarterbacks.

Jim Michalzcik gets to handle the big uglies up front, with obvious help from Cable. Adam Henry has the job of keeping Miller on point and developing a complementary second tight end.

Kelly Skipper will handle the responsiblity of coaching the running backs to a level of consistent play. His connection to Lorenzo Neal from Fresno State ought to help, as Neal is a strong figure who wants to team to take on a tougher role.

Sanjay Lal probably has more pressure on him to make the wide receivers productive than any other position coach in Oakland.

Derrick Burgess Can Stay Away from Oakland Raiders Training Camp in Napa

So Derrick Burgess wants to hold out and not report to camp? Awesome!

This has been a long time coming, and it’s something the Raiders have prepared for since the spring. Burgess was on the trading block around draft time, and I’m sure Al Davis refused to bite on any garbage offers like he did for Randy Moss in 2007.

There is no disputing Burgess’ pass-rushing ability can help a team, but what about his run defense? It is truly awful, as the right tackle or tight end constantly throws him on the ground.

I’ve been on site after site for the last year or so screaming for the guy’s departure.  Some even have had the nerve to challenge that idea, as if he can still play at a Pro Bowl level. He is an injury prone, one-dimensional defensive end wanting to get paid because this is his last chancce at a big contract.

I can’t really blame the guy for looking out for himself when football is over in a few years. The thing is, Mr. Burgess plays left defensive end, where Greg Ellis will be starting. Ellis is more versatile and plays the run better, so he instantly makes the defensive line more competent.

It is undetermined who the right defensive end will as of now, but most believe second-year player Trevor Scott will take that job.

Burgess reportedly doesn’t like going up against the left tackle. So I ask: what role does he really have on this team?

Spare me the situational pass rusher nonsense. Since coming to the Raiders, Burgess’ production has slipped dramatically, and it is no wonder the Raiders have drafted a healthy amount of defensive ends lately.

The left defensive end goes up against right tackles and tight ends at times. In the run game, the right tackle is more of the road grader than the left tackle. Franchise left tackles get big money to protect the quarterback’s blindside, but having a good run-blocking right tackle is paramount for an offense’s success.

What good does a left defensive end do for a defense if he continually gets pushed by the opposing right tackle?

Derrick, it was nice, but your time is up and the writing is on the wall, man. Stay away from Napa and plead for your release or trade.

Both parties will be better off, because Davis isn’t budging after making you a starter four years ago. Play out your contract is all Davis will say to you, brother.

AFC West Foes Will Always Be Beneath the Oakland Raiders

Yes you read the title of the article correctly. This is a call out shot to all our foes who arrogantly speak as if their franchise is above the Raiders.

These blogs and NFL forums are filled with constant bashing of Al Davis and the Raiders. Mainly it comes from jealous ingrate SD,KC or Denver fans. The nerve of losers to actually open their lips to utter any negative spew on anything having to do with the Raiders.

Let’s start off with the mountain mules from Denver shall we? The Raiders own Denver period. The Broncos use to get ran by Oakland all day and all night. What does that have to do with today? A lot. Still to this day you are way behind in the head to head count. We owe your Mr. ED-look-alike Hall of Fame QB.

The record in Denver is a winning one. Can you say the same for yourselves in Oakland? Spare me the we have owned you since 1995 talk. Shannhan is gone, thanks to us, and the Raiders have really been better than Denver even in the disaster that is the 2006 season.

Have fun this year when the Raiders sweep Denver. Don’t be shocked if we clinch our playoff berth in your house. Did I forget to mention you guys cheated from 1996 to 1998? Cheaters!

Kansas City and Oakland have the best rivalry in the AFC. These teams hate each other and the games are always tightly contested. But what the hell can a chief fan say? Your franchise hasn’t won a damn thing since Woodstock.

Okay, you own the head to head series, but explain the number playoff wins you have had since the merger. How come the AFC title trophy is named after Lamar Hunt and your team has never won it? My team has many times so back up and chill. Enjoy the broom fest in 2009. Cassell is going to wish Brady didn’t get hurt last year when we get a hold of his overrated behind.

Charger fans make me sick. I’m going to honest. What the hell has the city of San Diego ever won? Why is Merriroids and Phillip “hick” Rivers so damn cocky without a ring to validate them? LaDainian Tomlinson is a hall of famer for sure and a for sure bet to never see a Super Bowl.

The Chargers have been beating the Raiders since the end of 2003 with nothing to show for it. It will take 10 more years of sweeping the Raiders to catch up in the head to head battle. Your stadium gets overtaken every year by opposing fans. I feel bad for the LA faction who has to put up with Charger coverage.

The aura of the Chargers is a joke. That is why a Raider like myself walks into Junior Seau’s with a silver and black gear sported with the woman on my silver and black line. Go win a title and then you may be allowed to talk. Cheat like Denver did. Oh yeah you did cheat in the early ’60s since you were the first ‘roided team in NFL history.

Bow down and prepare to be swept by Oakland. Tom Cable has indicated who will run the west from now on. Our rightful place as kings of the NFL will be established very soon and it makes you sick. Well get all the meds you can because there will be no cure starting with San Diego September 14.

The Raiders Need to Find Another Nose Tackle………Quickly

Outside of Jamarcus Russell’s maturity and pass protection from the offensive line, nothing perplexes the rest of what is called the Raider Nation as does the situation with the run defense. It is common knowledge the key to stopping the run starts with the defensive line.

All critics have stated time and time again the team passed up worthy run stoppers in the past draft. It is almost Napa time and although more optimism is high for the defense overall, becoming a championship defense in Oakland will demand the signing of a free agent nose tackle.

I am sure Bleacher Report readers viewed the article predicting the defensive tackles will step up this year. This article isn’t to bash them by any means. I really like the top three guys on the depth chart because their skills compliment each other very well. The dilemma the Raiders have is the fact that Terdell Sands happens to be the one true Nose Tackle on the squad.

Tommy Kelly played nose tackle in 2006, and it was determined that wasn’t the best spot for him to succeed. Gerard Warren played nose tackle last season, but is a much better pass rusher than he is a run stopper. William Joseph is a first round bust, but isn’t a nose tackle either, Ryan Boschetti is known for his hard nose play, but can you count on him if one of the starters goes down to injury?

With such a limited free agent pool for quality nose tackles, the Raiders will be forced to make some difficult decisions in the next few weeks. Hollis Thomas has been mentioned on this site and seems like a logical choice, but the Raiders will be better served if a younger veteran gets cut in training camp.

Even if Terdell steps up like I expect him to, a valuable pickup to help plug the holes is mandatory. I’m willing to bet Al Davis doesn’t make a move unless an unexpected release happens before September.

The hope for many is that Oakland’s run issues will not be discussed next summer. Regardless of what sort of production is seen this season, next year’s draft will demand a selection of a nose tackle to anchor the defense for the next decade.

Warren’s Worn-Out Welcome: Sappapotomous Is a Bitter, Big Trap-Mouthed Buffoon

How many insulting quotes will Warren Sapp dish out to the Raiders organization until he gets closure?

Sapp’s words of hate sound similar to an ex-girlfriend who has failed to recover from an ugly break up. Spare us the drama “Steak Burrito Killa”…oops, I meant QB Killa.

Much enthusiasm is flowing in Raiderland about JaMarcus Russell taking a more serious approach to his career. Why in world would Sapp still be negative about this news?

Is it tragically difficult to ponder why he would trash a former teammate like that? The guy is only 24 years of age and people swear he is 35 or something.

It is one thing to throw jabs at Al Davis for his management skills, but to dog Russell out on TV shows…you are a bitter cry baby that can’t move on from your four pitiful seasons in Oakland.

Blame your own play and admit your part in the six-year futility fest in Oakland. The Raiders were one year removed from the Super Bowl hangover when they made the huge error of signing a waste of space booted from Tampa.

Sure, the Bucs worked the Raiders in one of the most bizarre 24-hour periods in Super Bowl history. Strange dark forces worked in your favor so you should celebrate, but you were awful in Oakland.

Putting up a bunch of stats to show just how garbage you were in Oakland would underscore the abundance of nothing you brought on Sundays. Reminiscing on the constant backward push generated against O-linemen from ’04 to ’07 brings a humorous laugh to my soul.

True Raider people such as myself were unexcited to see your name linked to Oakland on the news wire. Anyone with half a brain knew you were going to produce squat against the superior linemen of the AFC at that point in your career.

Is there anything more entertaining than seeing Sapp and Derrick Burgess verse the run getting simultaneously pushed back in a vulnerable position like female prom dates? I got use to it, as most of what people call the Raider Nation did.

Al Davis paid you well and you are still an ungrateful punk.

I don’t give one hot damn if Al interferes. It is his team and he could do what he wants with it.

Why didn’t you ask for your release after 2004 if things were so damn bad? No, that actually would have been an honorable gesture on your part.

Instead you played and got more millions off our fans’ misery for the next three seasons. I swore I heard you on a TV show that everything was about the check. Am I wrong or right here?

I hope the networks that employ Warren Sapp’s analysis understand that a leopard can never change its spots.

He is a lard ass with a big mouth who will always say idiotic crap and hardly anything relevant or intelligent.

Don’t be surprised when Sapp’s mouth really screws him over. His career will be over just like his genius hip soda shop idea was a few years back.

Are Jeff Garcia’s Comments Just a Ploy to Inspire JaMarcus Russell?

What is better than a good old quarterback controversy?

Fans, the media, and players are at a constant standstill, and everyone is an expert.

Since agreeing to come to Oakland, Jeff Garcia has been pretty adamant about his confidence to still lead the team while JaMarcus Russell gets his game in gear. A few are even speculating that Garcia has a legit shot at being announced as the opening night starter versus the hated San Diego Chargers.

The Raiders never run a normal operation compared to other franchises, but is this really normal?

Al Davis has expressed his love for Russell’s talent in action and words. An owner/GM will never select a QB No. 1 if they don’t believe he can carry contending teams throughout the majority of his career. Straying from that plan does not help a team that is supposed to be rebuilding. Al is a wild guy, but he surely knows better considering the rumored environment at team headquarters.

Tom Cable is an extension for Davis. Call him a puppet or yes man if you must, but somehow, some way, the attitude and morale is higher in Alameda. It can only be perceived as a positive with a few weeks before Napa accepts the Raiders again. He has their attention and has called out Russell a few times on work ethic. Then he brings in Garcia to heat things up by mouthing off to the media every chance he gets.

I seriously wouldn’t rule out Al and the Cable Guy planning this far in advance to force Russell’s hand. Garcia may have been encouraged to exaggerate an open competition so the media can pick it up. It seems JaMarcus was content on doing what was only required by CBA rules, but with the news of his Alabama workouts this week, a change may have come.

Nonetheless, starting Garcia does nothing for your future.

I remember a press conference maybe two years ago when Davis admitted the players’ No. 1 priority is money. This is very true, but ego is a close second. You want the publicity as the man on the team. Athletes live for it. Quarterback is the top spot in all sports, and I doubt a young QB surrounded by a lot of hype will let a 39-year-old washout take his job.

I applaud Davis and Cable if they really hatched this plan under everyone’s nose while getting Russell top of the line QB coaching. Truth is that if Garcia is starting the majority of the season and Russell is a bust, the Raiders will have much more trouble than a six-year drought could ever produce.

Who Will Be Branch’s Partner In Crime?

It must be difficult for the old school generation to watch their Oakland Raiders suffer at free and strong safety. Gone are the days of bone shattering smacks on receivers who dared to test the middle against the Raider defense. Quarterbacks have confidence to take chances down field due to the Raider safeties lacking any play making ability. Embarrassing is the realization that our safety play is among the worse in the entire NFL even though Al Davis has an extreme obsession with defensive backs.

Since offseason programs have begun in Alameda, second year player Tyvon Branch, has recieved the majority of reps as the first team strong safety. Last week it was reported that Branch is the sure shot to be penciled in at free safety. This is a move that the author of this article happens to be in line with. Why did it take a couple of months to see the obvious?

Branch is a former cornerback from his days in Storrs(Connecticut). His uncanny blend of speed and ferociousness made him attractive to Al Davis and the Raiders in the 2008 draft. Being a special teams player on top of being a defensive back, Tyvon was injured and lost for the season. The year netted an impressive interception returned for 36 yards in week 2 vs Kansas City and ten total tackles. Not enough to give a true analysis of what he will do in 2009.

Now that our FS has been selected, who will be the strong safety?

Michael Huff

One of the more disappointing draft picks Al Davis has ever made, hope for a Asmougha-esque seem quite deem for the Huffster. Having started both safety slots, an estimated 100 pct of what people called the Raider nation see the guy as a total bust. With his release eminent, Raider folks can breath a sigh of relief as the bad taste washes out from passing over a much needed NT like Haloti Ngata in 2006.

Hiram Eugene

After getting chances to start in 2007 and 2008,  Eugene’s slot has been snatched away after seeing all the reps as a first teamer in the off season workouts. While the effort and heart have always been there for the Louisiana native, the talent and big time plays are non existent. Still, Eugene can be a valuable member for the unit as a backup and even give some added help to special teams play.

Keith Davis

This signing was done with special teams being the deciding factor. Known as a special teams ace, Raider supporters can’t expect much from Davis in a starting role for Oakland. Signed in May, Davis has already lobbied for Jeff Garcia as the team’s signal caller.

Mike Mitchell

Upset may be the understatement of the year when the Raiders used their 2nd round pick on a MAC conference safety is this year’s past draft. Impressing the front office brass, Mitchell is seen as a guy who brings instant physicality to a defense that has been anything but imposing. Knockouts were a regular occurrence for Mike Mitchell at Ohio University. Cable linked him to old school Raiders like Jack Tatum and George Atkinson, but Mitchell possesses excellent makeup speed and versatility that the former Raider greats can only dream of. Unfortunately a hamstring injury and NFL rules for graduating senior classes prevented Mitchell from showing the Raider staff what his full capabilities can produce for the squad.

No matter what combo is sent on the field, the organization must be concerned with what will be for 2009. I’m sure any upgrade from the previous 6 seasons will be welcomed with full embrace, but having set in stone starters for years to come is what will be needed to be an annual contender in the AFC. Michael Huff may be gone and Eugene lacks the talent to be a starter. Keith Davis has been in the NFL for better part of this decade and can’t crack the starting lineup. Can it be that before season’s end the Raider go young with Branch and Mitchell as the last line of defense?

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